Chapter 16: "Fathers"

Jericho's POV

Jericho ran as far as he could, trying to get near enough to Jump City to use his communicator. He felt as if he stopped, he would die; and many others with him. He knew his life was finally being put to good use, as a messenger of bad news.

"What am I going to say?" he thought "Hey Moth. How's it goin'? Oh, and by the way; the East Squad is gone… Damn you Goth, Damn you Deathstroke.." He was no longer a father to him. He was just a mad man in league with evil, nothing more. There was one thing that crossed his mind, "Kill him." "It's the only way" he thought "The only way…"

He would have to take the life of his father to end the pain and suffering. Stop death with more death. The thought was ripping at him, but he knew it was the only way; there was no way he would return to his former self. If only he knew….

Titans West POV

Nightwing was in his and Starfire's room. He had been there sense they returned. He sat there, all lights out; alone. Starfire couldn't bare to see him this way. She wanted to be with him, but knew he would be in too much pain and would start to worry about her more. Though it pained her deeply, she stayed outside there bedroom window outside the tower. She was on the small ledge with her back pressed against the glass. She stood there with her face down. After a while, while broke her train of thought and noticed a wilted rose. She bent down and picked it up, reading the note attached to it.

"Thank You

X"

It shocked her. He was there before! However, the feeling passed as she realized the ally he had become. "You are welcome friend.." she thought with a small smile. The note brought back memories of the time she received another letter. One from her parents.

She was very young. She and her older siblings were always the beloved royalty of Tamaran. Until the day They came..

The Gordanians were a reptilian race who knew no mercy. They felt that they were the absolute perfect beings and that it was their right to rule all of the Vegan system. They push aside all beliefs and practices of others. Their methodology was be beneath them in slavery or beneath them in death.

Starfire's parents chose to fight their oppressors and remain a valiant, independent people. It was no surprise when Galfore had to read the saddening news to the people of Tamaran. The children were alone with only Galfore, who looked after the princesses. Ryand'r, the first born prince, was already of age. When Ryand'r vowed to avenge his parents; he took a small army and returned later alone. Komand'r was instantly overlooked for a successor. She could not harness the sun's power and was seen to be unfit and weak. This enraged her beyond comprehension. She found her powers lied in moon light instead of a star, but this was still not good enough.

The loss of their parents was a great blow to the children, especially Koriand'r, Starfire. She didn't think she could go on without her parents. To help her in life, Galfore became her legal guardian and taught her combat and to love everything she had, especially friends. He became her second father.

Nightwing had a similar story of loss and new parenting. After losing his family, he was adopted by Bruce Wayne, Batman. Slowly, he found out that Bruce was the dark knight and sought to become just like him. His 'father' trained him and made him vow to protect the innocent and stop all evil and to never take it too far. Until one night, he did. Under the role of Robin, he and Batman were after Two-Face. After tracking him down, they discovered they were after the wrong person. Robin took off after the Joker, alone, and was shot. The news quickly said that Robin was dead and in a way, they were right. That night, with his wound still healing, he went to Titan's Tower as Richard 'Dick' Grayson. Only Starfire recognized him. He told them how he had been fired as Robin and that he had lost his place. If not for Starfire and the other Titans, he may have done something drastic to himself.

With his true love and friends, with no help from his bat father, he became Nightwing and took his role as protector of the innocent once more. He and Starfire were perhaps one of the closest Titan relationships. The strength of their love was only rivaled by that of Beast Boy and Raven. He had thought about it many times and the conclusion came to him. When the anniversary of his rebirth as Nightwing came, he would ask her to marry him. He was not about to let anyone or anything stand between him and happiness. Not Trigon, not Slade, and sure as Hell not Batman.

He looked out the window to see his love, Starfire standing on the other side. He opened the window. "Hey there beautiful.."

"Richard!" She flew in and hugged him tightly, the sudden show of affection caused him to fall backwards on their bed.

As she looked into his masked eyes he kissed her cheek before speaking again. "I know it seems like I push others away, but Kori; it's because I try to think everything through. I never want anything bad to happen, especially to you."

"I know."

As they continued, they acted out their love. In the next hours, nothing mattered to them but each other.

Raven and Beast Boy, were in their room holding one another. They too, like most of the Titans, were without parents. Raven's father was a constant threat to them, but his evil could be stopped; as long as they stayed together. Together, he was a weak bully. They had proven that once before. With Beast Boy by her side, Raven's power was immense and unstoppable; and with her, Beast Boy could use his beast instincts and become a powerful beast fueled by love and protective instincts, rather than hate and harmful ones.

Raven knew that because of his parenting that one day he would be a terrific father. She would gladly marry him and have beautiful children with him, if only he would ask. She was ready for the commitment, but worried if he was. He was, but worried about her. Worry was one thing their psychic link couldn't share, but they could sense it.

As she looked into his emerald eyes, she asked him. "Gar, what are we going to do?"

"We'll stop them. I'll make sure of it.. I took Trigon down once, if he comes back I'll do it again.."

"Gar.. how can you? You haven't been able to transform into your 'blood beast' sense back then."

"I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Whatever it takes to keep you happy. I would give my life in an instant."

A tear began to flow, as he wiped it away she spoke once more. "No matter how many times or ways you say that, I always am refilled with love.."

She leaned farther him and he did the same until their lips met. After the light kiss, her green love spoke.

"Rae.."

"Yes, Garfield?"

"I love you, and some day, I want to marry you"

Her only response was a tight embrace.

(Ok, I know I'm takin' a while before I get to tha good shit, but please hold on. And one thing.. Should I put in tha next chap a Star/NW lemon? It would be my first and fairly simple.. I would have put it here, but I like my short chaps and I wanna check with my readers first. I await your answers mutha fackos..)